Chapter 33: The Madwoman

  Shu Mountain, Sword Returns to its Edge, Red Gold Sword, First Hall of the Grand Chamber

  On both sides of the hall, dozens of disciples wore uniform white robes, standing opposite each other with their heads bowed and faces stern, not daring to speak or smile.

  On June 3rd, Wang Ruitu and Tang Anyan had a fierce battle, and he died in the war. Now that forty-nine days have not yet passed since his death, Wang Ruitu's eldest son Wang Rui is wearing mourning attire, at this moment kneeling before Wang Ruitu's memorial tablet.

  Wang Rui was originally a spoiled son, and his previous arrogance was all due to Wang Ruitu's prestige in Shushan. But now that Wang Ruitu is dead, the blow to him is extremely great, he has completely lost his mind and does not know what to do with himself

  The rise and fall of a family, originally all depended on Wang Ruitu alone. With Wang Ruitu's death, the Wang family, no matter how large it was, would soon decline. It's a pity that Wang Ruitu, a hero for a lifetime, ended up with such an outcome due to his two unworthy sons, which has become a warning to everyone in the Jianghu.

  A son who is not filial is the fault of his father.

  After Wang Ruitu's death, all the white affairs were handled by the disciples of Cang Feng. Wang Ruitu's disciples died or were injured in Yanjing, and only a few dozen people remained in Shushan. At this time, the once prosperous Chi Jin Sword had only two or three cats left, and even the first seat of the Chi Jin Sword sect could not be elected.

  Wang Ruitu has been dead for a month, and his body can't be found anymore. However, one of the seven absolute swords of Shushan, the Red Gold Sword, was recovered. Now it's hanging above this mourning hall.

  Under the temple, a plain white cloth

  Today, it has been a month since Wang Ruitu's death. A country cannot be without a king for a day, and the Red Gold Sword also cannot be without an owner for a day. Today, we must select a leader from among you to inherit the lineage of the Red Gold Sword. All disciples, whether they were on external missions or in internal seclusion, have all gathered here today.

  Wang Rui knelt before the memorial tablet, and after three kneels and nine knocks, he took down the Red Gold Sword from above the spirit hall. He held it in both hands, then bowed to his fellow disciples: "My father may have died, but the Red Gold Sword has been recovered. I hope you, my fellow disciples, will be able to take over this sword and lead the Red Gold Sword disciples to continue spreading our school's teachings. Only then can my father's spirit in heaven rest in peace."

  Wang Rui said, at this point, he was already crying uncontrollably. He wiped away his tears and suddenly knelt down in front of the crowd of disciples, wailing: "My father died a terrible death, his body not even intact! As his son, I don't have the ability to avenge him personally. I hope that after you seniors take over the position of leader, you can help me avenge my father's death. If so, then in this life and the next, I, Wang Rui, will be eternally grateful to you seniors."

  As he spoke, Wang Rui "thudded" and knocked his head on the ground, and fresh blood suddenly seeped out of his forehead, staining the ground red.

  All the disciples of the Red Gold Sword looked at each other, but none of them dared to take this Red Gold Sword.

  This sword represents not only power, but also a huge responsibility to bear.

  This responsibility is too heavy and it's not something that ordinary people can undertake. If he takes it on, but doesn't do a good job and gets kicked out, it will be even more embarrassing.

  "Brother Wang, you get up first." An older-looking senior brother helped Wang Rui up, but sighed and said: "In the past, Master had the final say in all matters, and Elder Jin Jian from the south also helped. The position of First Seat is not something we can decline, it's just that our senior brother's ability is limited. Moreover, you also know about the Qiu family, now they are at the height of their power, even the Master of the sect is afraid to say he has the ability to defeat them. We brothers... alas..."

  He let out a sigh, and the other disciples felt the same way, also sighing in silence. The main hall was filled with a mournful and desolate atmosphere. They had never thought that one day, without Wang Ruitu, the majestic Red Gold Sword would become like this.

  Just then, a loud crash was heard, and the large gate outside the main hall was suddenly smashed open.

  All the disciples glared at him with anger, and a surge of indescribable rage rose in their hearts. Was it that other sects' disciples came to see us make fools of ourselves? In the past when our master was around, it was always only us, the Chi Jin Gate people, who laughed at others, how could it be that others come to laugh at us?

  It can stun everyone, but the person who came in was a woman. And behind her were dozens of followers. These dozens of people didn't seem to be disciples of Shu Mountain, but they all had their breath contained, with eyes like electricity, and they were all top-notch masters.

  The Shu Mountain disciples all thought: "Who is this? Could it be Master's friend?"

  This woman's hair was high and curled into a seashell shape, with a veil of green gauze covering her face, revealing only her eyes, which were bright and spirited, with an air of cold arrogance in every glance.

  She waved her sleeve, and the attendants behind her immediately rushed in and surrounded the Shu Mountain disciples. Those disciples saw this and suddenly looked terrified, all worried, not knowing what those people were going to do.

  Only to see that woman's hand condensed frost, a swing of her hand and the frost dispersed into countless blades, flying towards the Shu Shan disciples.

  "Pffft"

  With just a crisp sound, all the Shu Shan disciples were struck by this icy coldness. They moved, but felt that their entire body was powerless, and this icy coldness had actually sealed off everyone's internal energy.

  The woman's face turned even colder as she saw this, and she said in a cold voice: "Flog him"

  As soon as she finished speaking, the attendants who came with him immediately took out whips and started whipping the Shu Shan disciples fiercely. For a while, the front hall was filled with cries of pain.

  The woman, however, seemed not to have heard and walked slowly into the mourning hall step by step. When she saw the name Wang Ruitu on the memorial tablet, as well as a man kneeling beside it who looked very much like Wang Ruitu, dressed in mourning attire, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

  Then she stretched out her hand and grasped at the air. The spirit tablet of Wang Ruitu appeared before her face.

  That woman stared blankly at Wang Ruitu's memorial tablet, and the frost on her face slightly melted, but she shook her head slightly, muttering to herself: "Junior brother, I said you were wrong, you were wrong from the start. When Master passed on the position of First Seat to you, I didn't object, it was because I hoped you could change. You originally still had a very long way to go, unfortunately, you chose to stop."

  Die, you're dead, and now I find you more pleasing to the eye. As for those disciples of yours, I'll take good care of them for you from now on."

  She said, looking at Wang Rui again, and continued: "The one next to you is your son, right? Unfortunately, his roots are too poor, not even a tenth of yours. At first glance, he's useless trash, living only to bring shame to you." The woman's tone suddenly became sharp and severe.

  Suddenly, she stretched out her hand, and a cold light flashed on her fingertips.

  Wang Rui suddenly felt as if he had been struck by lightning in his heart, and his soul was about to shatter. He only felt a blackness before his eyes, and then he knew nothing more.

  Because he has already died and become an ice sculpture with his heart frozen solid

  That woman killed Wang Rui, her expression didn't change at all, she turned around and took a look at the Shu Shan disciple who was rolling on the ground in pain, then turned back and grabbed the Chi Jin sword.

  She stroked the scabbard of the scarlet sword, feeling the texture on it. The familiar sensation led her into memories from many years ago. This memory should have been warm, but she resisted with all her might in her heart.

  She slammed her hand on the table, and instantly the table turned to dust. She suddenly burst into a hysterical laughter: "Haha... Master, did you see that? I, Li Wuhuan, have returned to Shu Mountain again! After thirty years, I, Li Wuhuan, have finally come back!"

  She smiled, picked up Wang Ruitu's memorial tablet again, and gently wiped it: "Younger brother, no matter how poor you are, you are still my younger brother. No matter how displeased I am with you, that is my own business. If anyone else dares to touch you, I will make sure they have no grave to rest in. You died, I will avenge your death."

  Li Wuhuan finished speaking, and with a swift movement, she flashed out of the main hall and appeared in front of those Shu Mountain disciples. She grabbed one of the disciples by the neck and said coldly, "Where is my enemy now?"

  That disciple looked at Li Wuhans gradually shrinking pupils, which were filled with a cold and sinister killing intent. He suddenly felt a chill run down his spine and stammered: "He should be heading to Yangzhou. His parents are in Yangzhou, everyone says he's going there to see his parents."

  Li Wuhuan slowly released the disciple, who inadvertently saw Wang Rui inside, and was shocked to find that he had become a living ice sculpture. It seemed that he was dead beyond recognition. Suddenly, Li felt his own neck start to feel cold too. His heart filled with fear, he couldn't help but tremble: "Who is this crazy woman? Her martial arts are so terrifying!"

  Just then, Cang Feng and other leaders received a notice that a mysterious person had rushed to the mountain, knocking down countless disciples along the way.

  Cang Feng and other first seats in the hall looked at each other, then looked at that iconic cold face, and had already guessed a few points.

  Cang Feng saw Li Wuhan turn his head in an instant, and his heart trembled suddenly. He thought of the most proud disciple of Shu Mountain's Red Gold Sword thirty years ago, that crazy woman.

  Cang Feng has already remembered, others are older than Cang Feng and know more things. They knew where this woman had been cultivating for the past thirty years.

  They exchanged a glance, and in their hearts, they couldn't help but wonder: "Could it be that she, who managed to escape from the Western Wilderness' Labyrinthine Path, has already entered the Great Heaven Realm?"

  Li Wuhuan saw these people, and of course, she recognized them as the top leaders of Shu Mountain. A cold smile spread across her face as she gazed at them icily, saying: "What are you doing here? This is my Red Gold Sword territory, even if you want to watch the excitement, it's not your turn. But since you're here, I won't have to make an extra trip. Let me inform you, from now on, I, Li Wuhuan, am the leader of Red Gold Sword. Also, spread the word for me: I, Li Wuhuan, will go to Yangzhou to kill Tianjian Tang An and make him surrender his head."

  …………

  Tang An wore a suit of fine clothes, riding the "Snow Lion" slowly along the official road. Mu Hongyu and Xiao Xie rode side by side on one horse, with the three of them leading the way at the front of the procession. Behind them followed eight hundred Tiger and Leopard Riders, dressed in black armor, their horses' hooves thundering loudly.

  "Tang An, I've heard that in this Yangzhou region, horse thieves are rampant and the imperial court is unable to suppress them effectively, losing the hearts of the people. That's why the Tianqi Sect has an opportunity to set up a fragrance hall here and recruit followers. But why haven't we seen even a shadow of these horse thieves on our journey for the past two days?" Mu Hongyu said listlessly.

  Tang An smiled and said, "Xiao Mu, you're really silly. Look at the people behind us. There are so many of them following us, we can go anywhere with an air of grandeur. Those bandits are very clever, they only rob those who look easy to bully. We look like a formidable group, maybe if they come, they'll be the ones getting bullied instead."

  Tiger and leopard knights, eight hundred men. Although it seems like not many, in a place where horse bandits roam freely, gathering several thousand horse bandits is still very easy. However, when the eight hundred tiger and leopard knights gather together, they have an aura as majestic as a mountain range, an aura that can only be forged in mountains of corpses and seas of blood, far beyond what ordinary people can compare to. Those horse bandit leaders would know at a glance that they are absolutely no match, and naturally wouldn't come to send themselves to their deaths. Moreover, these eight hundred tigers and leopards were fully armed, with only a small amount of dry rations and drinking water on them, apart from their curved blades and long spears. If they wanted to rob, would they be robbing them of their armor?

  Although he knew that it was impossible for bandits to appear on the road, Tang An couldn't shake off the feeling of unease in his heart. It felt like something big was going to happen. Xiao Xie also had a gloomy expression, and even eating didn't bring him the same joy as before.

  Tang An raised his head and looked up at the sky, dark clouds covered the ground, it seemed like it was going to rain.

  There's another one coming up next

  The plot is getting intense again, and next week will be exciting for classmates.

  Can't even get on the ranking list, it's really too embarrassing.